Energy Evolution

As power demand rockets thanks in part to datacenter operators, the US grid needs more dispatchable power, FERC chairman  Mark Christie tells Energy Evolution host Taylor Kuykendall on the sidelines of the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston. Taylor will be hosting additional episodes in addition to Energy Evolution's typical weekly schedule for the next several days, featuring guests att...

In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Taylor Kuykendall speaks with Mark Brownstein, leader of energy transition efforts at the Environmental Defense Fund about environmental and climate priorities related to the energy transition in 2025.  They discuss the evolving geopolitical landscape impacting energy policies, the role of market forces in advancing clean energy technologies, and private s...

In this episode of the Energy Evolution podcast, host Taylor Kuykendall discusses the upcoming CERAWeek conference, scheduled for March 10-14 in Houston. He is joined by Ken Downey, Executive Director of Innovation Agora at CERAWeek, and Naki Mendoza, director of CERAWeek Programs at S&P Global.  Key topics for this year's conference include the changing geopolitical landscape, especially in light...

On Energy Evolution this week,  Eklavya Gupte and Rosemary Griffin examine the often-overlooked environmental ramifications of military conflicts as we mark the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war. Lennard de Klerk, who has studied the climate impact of this war, gives us some insights into how warfare, fuel consumption, forest fires, attacks on energy infrastructure and the estimated cost...

On this week's episode, we explore how the rapid evolution of AI technologies such as DeepSeek is reshaping how experts think about the energy landscape and what it means for sustainability and power systems. Guests on to talk about artificial intelligence and power demand include: Neil Chatterjee, former FERC chairman and current chief government affairs officer at energy tech company Palmetto; V...

On this week's episode of Energy Evolution, we lay out why grid equipment has become a bottleneck in the deployment of renewables, and why it takes time to ramp up manufacturing.   Andreas Schierenbeck, CEO of equipment provider Hitachi Energy, shares industry perspectives on investment trends and the operational realities of scaling up industrial manufacturing of transformers, while S&P Global Co...

With new tariffs anticipated and a domestic manufacturing sector just ramping up, US solar manufacturers are facing trade headwinds as well as opportunities.  Meanwhile, prices for modules in the US are substantially higher than in China and Europe. S&P Global Commodity Insights analysts Joe Steveni and Edurne Zoco lay out what to watch in the US solar supply chains and discuss the future of the I...

In this episode of the Energy Evolution podcast, Taylor Kuykendall discusses significant shifts in US energy policy following President Donald Trump's inauguration. On January 20, Trump declared a national energy emergency, aiming to reverse several Biden administration policies that he views as detrimental to domestic energy production. Key proposals include ending what he has called the electric...

Ahead of Germany's general election on Feb. 23, Energy Evolution looks at the energy implications for Europe's largest economy. With the center-right Christian Democrats leading in the polls, correspondent Camilla Naschert lays out the party's energy plans and discusses the main priorities for Germany's energy system with expert guests.  Guests on the episode are Christoph Maurer, managing directo...

Ahead of Germany's general election on Feb. 23, Energy Evolution looks at the energy implications for Europe's largest economy. With the center-right Christian Democrats leading in the polls, correspondent Camilla Naschert lays out the party's energy plans and discusses the main priorities for Germany's energy system with expert guests.  Guests on the episode are Christoph Maurer, managing directo...

Energy Evolution is merging with Platts Future Energy, and in this inaugural episode of the new series, hosts Taylor Kuykendall and Eklavya Gupte set the stage for 2025, which looks to be another pivotal year for the energy landscape.  We highlight key topics such as advances in renewable technologies, the critical role of hydrogen in decarbonization, and the evolving policies that will shape glob...

Platts Future Energy is merging with Energy Evolution, and in this inaugural episode of the new series, hosts Taylor Kuykendall and Eklavya Gupte set the stage for 2025, which looks to be another pivotal year for the energy landscape.  We highlight key topics such as advances in renewable technologies, the critical role of hydrogen in decarbonization, and the evolving policies that will shape glob...

In this episode of S&P Global Commodity Insights' Energy Evolution, co-host Taylor Kuykendall dives into the future of nuclear energy. With rising global energy demands and an urgent need for sustainable solutions, nuclear power is once again at the forefront of energy discussions. Listen in to hear about the challenges and opportunities that nuclear energy presents, including advancements in tech...

As 2025 kicks off, Energy Evolution and Platts Future Energy are joining forces to bring you the best in energy transition news, analysis, trends, interviews, and our expert insights. Starting January 21, the Platts Future Energy channel will host our merged energy transition podcast, Energy Evolution by Commodity Insights, so follow along there with hosts Taylor Kuykendall and Eklavya Gupte.  Pla...

With ample renewable resources, several African markets are tipped as key suppliers of green hydrogen for European industry. In this episode of Energy Evolution, hydrogen analyst Oghosa Erhahon and clean energy investor Kevin Anderson lay out which regions have the biggest potential, which constraints need to be tackled and how to ensure investments benefit local stakeholders. Beyond the export po...

In the latest All Things Aviation episode on the Platts Future Energy Podcast, Sarah Abu Bakar speaks with feedstock analysts Rob Hatchett and Wes Petkau along with biofuel research associate director Ji Yang Lum. The discussion highlights the implications of global biofuel policy uncertainty and the potential impacts that trade tariffs pose on feedstock flows, further complicating an already unce...

A proposal by Pacific Gas and Electric and real estate developer Westbank aims to connect datacenters and up to 4,000 new residential units in a net zero district energy system in downtown San Jose, California. The project could be a blueprint for tackling AI-driven datacenter demand and the need for housing. In this episode, Mike Medeiros, PG&E's vice president of South Bay delivery, talks with D...

In this episode, S&P Global Commodity Insights reporter Eklavya Gupte reflects on the outcomes of UN climate conference COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan in conversation with correspondent Camilla Naschert.  What has been achieved and how did the oil and gas nation do as a host? Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications.

The UN Climate Change Conference took place against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions and political divisions, yet it marked a significant step forward for carbon markets. For the first time in nearly a decade, nations reached a consensus on the rules for international carbon trading under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. World leaders also set new climate finance targets, with devel...

In this episode of the Energy Evolution Podcast, host Taylor Kuykendall discusses climate litigation with legal experts Hannah Weisman, a professor of law at Penn State University, and Phil Goldberg, special counsel with the Manufacturers Accountability Project. Weisman argues that litigation is a crucial avenue for accountability in the face of legislative inaction on climate change, while Goldbe...

In the latest episode of Energy Evolution, hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall analyze the energy transition implications of Donald Trump's return to the presidency and the Republican control of Congress. They discuss potential shifts in energy policy, including anticipated deregulation that may benefit traditional energy sources while slowing the momentum for renewable initiatives. Key topics i...

In this episode of the S&P Global Commodity Insights Energy Evolution podcast, host Taylor Kuykendall interviews J. Clay Sell, the CEO of X-energy, a company focused on advanced small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). X-energy is pioneering a new generation of nuclear technology that promises safer, more economical, and more efficient power generation. The episode follows the announcement of a rece...

In this episode of the Platts Future Energy Podcast, Gary Clark hosts downstream oil news managing editor Robert Perkins and head of aviation research James Simpson as they unpack the evolving landscape of jet fuel markets amid significant geopolitical and economic shifts. From the pandemic's lingering effects on demand to the impact of the Russian-Ukraine conflict and Middle Eastern tensions, sup...

In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Taylor Kuykendall engages with CEOs Jimmy Brock of CONSOL Energy and Randall Atkins of Ramaco Resources to discuss the evolving role of coal in the energy landscape. Although coal's share of US electricity generation has declined significantly, both executives argue that coal remains vital, particularly in steel production. They explore coal's diversificat...

As more of the world's power grids are supplied with renewables, accurate weather forecasting has become an increasingly important asset for power utilities. In this episode of Energy Evolution, correspondent Camilla Naschert speaks to Malte Rieck, meteorologist at Vattenfall, about the key parameters his team is watching, how AI is becoming a sharper tool for forecasting, and how extreme weather...